Safety navigable marine parachute.



J. J. REYNOLDS.

SAFETY NAVIGABLE MARINE PARACHUTE.

APPLICATION FILED MN. 30. I93].

1,249,829. Patented De0.11,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

1. J. REYNOLDS.

SAFETY NAVIGABLE MARINE PARACHUTE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30. 19:7.

1 49,829. Patented Dec. 11, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- lift Will

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JOEE J. REYNOLDS, F RANTOUIIL, ILLINOIS.

SAFETY NAVIGAJBLE MARINE PARACHUTE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 30, 1917. Serial No. 145,392.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN J. REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rantoul, in the county of Champaign and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Navigable vMarine Parachutes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention has for an object to provide a parachute by the use of which a safe landing may be made upon the surface of the ocean. A further purpose is to provide means whereby the parachute may be navigated after landing upon the surface of the water and a suitable signal made by which the attention of persons at a distance may be attracted. A further important purpose of the invention is to edect improvements in the structural details of parachutes whereby construction and utilization will be simplified for use upon aeroplanes and balloons.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will appear from the construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and shown in the drawings, wherein,

Figure '1 is a sectional View of a parachute constructed in accordance with my invention C Fig. 2 is a top view of the apparatus with the parachute distended, and in use for descent,

Fig. 3 is a side view showing the device in use upon the surface of water,

Fig. 1 is across sectional detail of the mast and spars in folded position,

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional detail of the parachute at the upper part showing the steps upon the center pole and bracing for the rim of the vent opening. I

Fig. 6 is a detail cross section of the mast and spars folded,

Fig. 7 is a detail of the floatingdevice,

Fig. 8 is a detail elevation of the mast and sail in use,

Fig. 9 is a detail of the upper end of the mast.

There is illustrated a parachute including a ole 10, comprising a ollow tube of suitab e material upon the upper part of which there is mounted an annular rim 12 formed of piping of suitable weight. For the purposes of the invention it is necessary that the major part of the custorna'r opening through the center of the parse ute shall be available for egress from the interior of the parachute to its exterior when desired. lln the present instance the pole is located eccentrically in the parachute, being secured tothe inner, side ofthe rim 12 by a suitable bracket 13. Braces 14. extend upwardly from each side of the pole at a distance below the rim 12, being also inclined inwardly and attached to the rim at each side a considerable distance from the pole 10, so as to brace the rim in rigid relation therewith. T he lower parts of these braces are extended horizontally a distance, providing steps 15, which with staggered steps 16 on the lower part of the pole enable an aviator to readily gain access to the exterior of the-parachute from the interior, while yet the rim 12 'is securely braced and connected to the pole as will be readily apparent. Pivoted upon the rim 12 there is a plurality of rib elements 17 of suitable material and form, over which is stretched a suitable fabric 18 attached in a proper manner at its lower and u er parts to the ribs 17 and the rim 12. Any usual practice may be followed in constructing the ribs and mounting the fabric thereon. A suitable number of stays 19 are provided which may be jointed, intermediately of their length, connected to certain of the ribs 17, preferably a short distance above their lower ends, these stays being extended diagonallv downwardly when the device is open and being connected to a ring 20 mounted on the center pole 10, in the same way as the rim 12, except that the braces 21 therefor extend upwardly. llntermediately of each two ribs 17 the fabric 18 has a circular opening therein, in which there is fitted a buoy-- ing device 22 in the form ofa bag-like device of rubberized cloth, ovate in cross section when distended, and having a circumscribing flange 23 stitched or otherwise secured to the edges of the opening in the top fabric 18. At their lower parts the elements 22 are provided with funnelshaped and downwardly directed openings 24: suitably stifiened to remain open, so that in the descent of the parachute the air pressure in the funnel openings will cause the bags 2-2 to be distended, and exert proper buoying edect when the device alights upon the water.

At the lower end of the pole 10, on the side toward the vertical axis of the parachute there is provided a small pivot bracket 25, spaced slightly above the lower end of Patented Wee. 11, 121A.

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the pole, upon which there is pivoted a seat element. 26, having small pivot ears 27 upon its upper side spaced inwardly from-what may be termed the front edge of the seat, which is adjacent the pole 10 when the seat i' in use. In this way, the edge portion of tile seat projects under the pole, in such a manner as to limit downward movement of the body of the seat. The seat is movable upwardly to lie close against the pole when desired.

If desired, a suitable lash strap 31 may be provided having snap fastenings at the ends, and adapted to be engaged with staples 32, on the lower part of the pole. This strap may be fastened around the waist of the aviator in case this should be necessary, and by using the proper fastenings, they may be quickly detached in case it becomes necessar The upper end of the pole 10 i utilized to contain a mast 33 and spar and sail apparatus, the mast preferably being mounted .centrally in an enlarged base 34, slidable in the upper end of the pole 10, a suitable catch 35 being provided adjacent the upper end of the pole to engage under the base element 34 when it is moved to the upper limit of its movement, and prevent its casual return. The catch 35 may be suitably formed for manipulation to effect release of the base 34 to permit downward movement thereof in.

the pole when desired. The mast is preferably formed of sheet metal, comprising a hollow tube semi-circular in cross section, having a lever 36 pivoted thereon closely over the base 34, the lever being adapted to be moved outwardly when the mast is at the upper limit of its movement, for rotation of the mast. At a suitable distance above the lever 36, a lower spar element 37- is pivoted'upon the flat side of the mast. This spar is in the form of a quarter segment of a circle in cross section, and is plvoted at one side of the mast on the fiat face, so that the spar may be. turned on the mast to lie concentric therewith. From a point approximately level with the pivot of this spar, a longitudinal slot 38 is formed ,in the fiat face of the mast spaced opposite the center of the mast from the pivot of the spar 37 and extending nearly to the top of the mast. In this slot there is slidable a headed pivot rivet 39, upon which there is pivoted an upper spar 40 similar to the one 37 before described, and adapted when at the lower limit of its movement to lie in concentric relation with the mast and the other spar as shown in Fig. 4. The slot 38 has a lateral downwardly inclined extension 41 at its upper end, into which the rivet is moved to retain the spar in raised position. A sail and signal sheet 42 is provided, havin it lower edge secured to the spar 37, and its upper edge portion secured suitably to the spar 40,

being of such size that it will be nearly or quite taut when the upper spar is moved to its uppermost position. When the spars are moved to folded position as shown in Fig. 4, the sail will be looped outwardly thereof and wra )ped around the folded parts. If desired, in order to insure the proper opening of the bags 2:2, they may be provided at their inner sides with metallic plates 43 suitably pressed to shape to conform to the contour of the inner side of the bag when distended, this plate having an eye bolt extended therefrom through the side of the bag, to which light cables or cords 44 are connected, these being in turn connected to two of the next adjacent stays 19. The spar 40 is provided at its upper end with a suitable hand hold or ring 45, by which the mast may be drawn upwardly to extended position. It is also desirable to provide a stop within the pole 10 to limit downward movement of the mast therewithin, as indicated at 46.

In use, the parachute being folded, it may be carried in any convenient manner upon an air craft, and when it is to be used, the aviator grasps the lower part of the pole and adjusts himself upon the seat while the device is hung from the craft in any of the customary methods then releasing it as usual. After descent, if the device should alight upon the water, the aviator climbs the pole by means of the steps 16 and braces described, into the space within the parachute proper, where he may remain if desired, protected from the sun or cold winds, as the case may be, or may rest with his body partly submerged if desired. Should it be desirable, the aviator may climb through the vent opening and seat himself upon the rim 12. In case the device is in an isolated situation and it is desirable to effect movement thereof, or in case it becomes desirable to display a signal in order to attract attention of passing crafts, the aviator may grasp the ring 45, drawing the mast upwardly until fully extended, after which the bar 40 is raised to its uppermost position and secured by means of the slot 41, after first being swung into horizontal position. By manipulatinv the lever 36 properly, advantage may be tzilren of any breezes that may blow, to give the parachute movement in the direction desired, and if the sail 42 is made of some distinctive color, it will readily attract attention in case any vessels pass nearby.

It will be seen that a simple construction of parachute is provided, well adapted for landing in land or water, the parts of which are durable and efficient in action, and adapted tobe manipulated readily.

It is considered desirable to provide means to retain air in the bags 22, a flap valve 4-7 being indicated in Fig. 7 for this purpose, although any other suitable form of valve may be used.

naaaaaa What is claimed is:

it. A parachute device comprising a dome shaped canopy structure and a plurality oil air retaining buoy element incor orated thereon adjacent the lower edge, or the purposes described.

2. A parachute comprising a dome shaped canopy element having a central aperture therethrough, a stem mounted on the canopy eccentrically of said opening, whereby the major portion of the opening is available for the passage of an aviator, means on the parachute to support a person, and step elements on the stem.

3. A parachute comprising a domeshaped canopy element having a central vent aperture therein, means to support a person upon the parachute, including a stemelement located adjacent one. side of the opening whereby the major portion of the opening will be available for passage of the body 0t an aviator, a meet element slidable in the stem and a fabric sheet carried upon the mast for the purposes described.

4. A parachute comprising a dome shaped canopy element having a central vent opening therein, a tubular pole element mounted on the canopy adjacent the side of the opento enable an aviator to climb the pole, a mast element slidable in the upper end of the pole including an enlarged base snugl fitted in the pole; said mast being concentrian ELYIEJJOI support on the pole, means- 5. A parachute comprising a vertical pole,

upper and lower rings mounted thereon, said pole bein located closely adjacent one side of each ot the rings, rib elements pivoted on the upper ring, stay elements connected to the lower-ring and the ribs at their swinging portions, an aviator support on the lower part ot the pole, means on the pole to enable an aviator to climb through said rings, a fabric secured upon said ribs having a concentric opening therein and buoyant means on the device adjacent the outer edge of the parachute constructed and adapted to support a parachute and a passenger upon the surface of water.

In witness whereof l have ail'ixedv my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JUHN d; REYNOLDS. itnesses:

H. la. oonwann W. R. Bani/r. 

